Soldering device



Juiy 20, 1943.

L. P. :YOUNG SOLDERING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jail/1 ZZarzzey July 20, 1943. L. P. YOUNG SOLDERING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zmnani PYouzgg.

11 iKAZZorzzey.

Patented July 20, 1943 UNITED STATES A NT SOLDERING DEVICE Leonard P. Young, Chester, Conn Application May is, 194a, Serial No.

16 Claims. (01. 113 94) This invention relates broadly to soldering devices, and particularly to the kind having a'solder feeder, and I which may be termed automatic.

Soldering devices provided with means'for auto-.- maticaily feeding solder into the pathof a soldering iron, and upon the work to be soldered, have been developed to a more or less crude state, but never have been found to he sufliciently practical to warrant their adoption in industry. I

The presentinvention is primarily designed to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive and high: ly eflicient device of that kind, which will permit continuous soldering operations, whileleaving the hands of the operator free. I 7' One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide an automatic soldering device, wherein the solder, in-the form ofa ribbon, cord or'st-rip, is automatically fed over the work and into the path of a soldering iron at the time when the soldering iron moves away from the and for cushioning the impact of the iron when 7 coming in contact with the work, by interposing yieldable means between the operative means for holding the soldering iron, and th rni-z chanism for moving the soldering iron to its Work-erigaging position.

The foregoingand other important objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation'of niyd'vice, secured to a device support, the latter being shown partially in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through my device taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a partial detail View of the feeding mechanism of my device as seen in the direction 3-3 indicated in Fig, 1; 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sideelevatic-n of my device, partiallyinsection;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken on line 55.of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 illustrates mydevice without its solder feeding mechanism. 3

Referring nowspecifica1ly to the diiferent figures, numeral 1 0 denotes theifloor upon which rests a device support H, which latter is providedlwith a; brace [2 to which is secured a bracket l3. Pivoted in the bracket at. isa pedal for operatingmy device by foot. In

prevent twisting of sleeve 21.

pedal 15 is opcrativeiy lodged at'le conne rod II The device support is preferably in form of a work henchand is provided with a or platform I 8, supporting ba'se IQ of my machine. This base is preferably secured to the platform by means of screws (Figs. 2 and ii Lodged in and extending upwards from the case is a hollawor tubular standard 2|, preferably held against movement by set screw 22.

Also mounted in the base, and being adjustable therein, is a war -rest 23, which may be held in any position by means of set screw 24. Standard 21 is provided with two aligned guide slots '25 for accommodating, guiding and limiting the movement of a pin 26, which is secured in and passes This tion. Sleeve 21 and therefore the entire iron support, including bracket 33; and'iron is adapted to be reciprocated in upward and downward-directions in respect to'standard 2d. The sleeve slides upon and is guided not only bythe outer: surface'of the standard, but also by the cooperation of guide pin 26 and guide slots in whichthe pin operates} The pin and the slots Lodged at the free end'ofstandard 2i is an adjusting nut 34, engaging an adjusting screw 35 from which is suspended at 35 a coil spring 31. This spring normally holds iron support '28 in upward position. 'Tlie'low'er end of the spring engages the upper eye 33 of a connecting lin 39, through. the center of which passes pin 2%. The lower end of link 39 engages the upper end of a cushioning spring 40, tothe lower end of which latter connecting rod 11 is attached at 41 (see FlgL-i). Secured to standard 21, below-iron support 28,

--is a feeder mounting 42, the position of which .may be changedlby-i'neans of a set screw 43. Ex-

iiending from feeder support .42 is" a bracket 44,

'45; --Shaft 48- is lodged in fixed bearings, while one end of shaft- 49 isilodged in an elongated hearing 59 (seezFig. 3). Upon shaft ll is' fixedly mounted a feed roller 5| and a ratchetwheel 52,

while shaft 49 supports another feed roller 53. The end 54 of shaft 49 is notched for receiving the looped end of a tension spring 55, suspended from an adjustable screw 56, freely lodged in bracket 51 of mounting 42. Spring 55 is intended to urge feed roller 53 against feed roller 5|. The amount of pressure of roller 53 against roller 5| may be regulated by adjusting screw 56.

Passing through a guide passage 58, provided in lip 59 forming part of mounting 42, is the free end of solder wire 41, which is engaged by the feed rollers 5| and 53 and is guided by means of a guide member 60, secured by set screw 6| in extension 62 of the mounting (see Fig. 2). Guide member 68 is preferably tubular and is bent to direct the solder over the work (not shown), reposing upon work-rest 23, and so that the solder extends into the path of operation of the tip of iron 33.

Pivoted upon shaft 48,-between the side of From Fig. 2 it will be clearly observed that U drum 46 carrying the solder wire may bodily move along pin or shaft 45, as well as freely rotate thereupon. This free movement of the drum is important for an uninterrupted and smoot feeding of the solder over the work.

Operation When work is placed upon the platform of work-rest 23, the latter is adjusted to the proper height so that the solder wire will always place itself upon the area of the Work to be subjected to the soldering operation. The heated electric soldering iron 33 is then brought in contact with the solder and work by the operation of pedal I5.

During the downward movement of iron-rest 28, connecting member 69 will cause a downward swing of connecting member 63, during which pawl or ratchet 65 will glide freely over the teeth of ratchet wheel 52. The downward movement of iron-support 28, and therefore of iron 33, is caused by the depression of pedal l5 and the pull exerted thereby through connecting rod l1, against cushioning spring 40, suspended from the lower end of link member 39. Thisdownward pull is exerted against the upward pull of spring 31, which latter is intended to normally lift ironsupport 28 to its upward, inoperative position. The tension of spring 31 may be regulated by nut 34 and screw 35.

When pedal I5 is released, spring 31 will pull up iron-support 28, and lift electric iron 33 from the work. During this upward movement of the iron support, connecting member 68 will cause connecting member 63 to swing upwards, whereby pawl or ratchet 65, engaging ratchet wheel 62, will turn the upper feed roller 5| a certain amount, sufficient to feed a desired length of soldor wire 41 over the work reposing upon the workrest.

The amount of solder fed through the feed rollers may be regulated by, first, the positioning of mounting 42, and, second, through the proper adjustment to .one another of the two connecting members. 63 and 69, by means of their respective adjusting holes and connecting bolt 61.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the feeding of the solder takes place during the upward movement of the iron so that when the iron is moved into contact with the solder and work, the fed-out piece of the solder will be at rest. Cushioning spring 46, interposed between link 39 and pedal connecting rod H, has for its purpose to not only reduce or soften the impact of the iron when coming in contact with the work, but to cushion such impact and to prevent excessive pressure of the iron tip against the work.

While only one automatic soldering device is shown placed upon the bench or device support, it is quite obvious that any number of such devices may be similarly arranged in a row or gang, and that a number of devices may be operated by one pedal movement simultaneously. This may be of particular advantage where work of the same nature and construction is to be subjected to the same type of soldering operation, and where the distance between the tip of the raised soldering iron, and the work is substantially uniform. Inasmuch as such gang arrangement is quite obviously conceivable, a special illustration thereof is omitted.

Recapz'tulation The outstandin features of the present invention reside in the provision of a simple, inexpensive, effective and efficient device, provided with a hollow standard wherein are mounted its combined operating means, for normally urging the iron-support in an upwards direction and for actuating it to its soldering position, said actuating means being provided with yieldable cushioning means to prevent excessive impact against and pressure upon the work. Another important feature of my device is the automatic, readily adjustable solder feeding mechanism which ejects any desired length of solder over the work during the period of the upward movement of the iron. Still another important feature of my invention is the construction of the support for the drum from which the solder is fed into the path of the soldering iron, which support is intended to provide free movement and rotation of the drum to prevent jamming, and to assure a uniform feeding operation.

While only specific structures and arrangements were illustrated and described, it is quite obviou that improvements and changes may become necessary when my device is to handle work of different types or character, and I therefore reserve for myself the right to make such changes and improvements, without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a soldering device, a fixed base, a hollow standard extending therefrom, an adjustable iron support reciprocating'ly mounted with said standard, upper and lower spring means within the standard and associated with said iron support, for, respectively, urging the support upwards, and for facilitating a cushioned downward movement of the latter, of solder, and sol der feeder means associated. with said standard and operatively connected with said iron support by adjustable motion-transmitting means, the latter being adapted to actuate said feeder means to dispense a desired length of solder beneath said support during the upward movement of the support, and an adjustable work-rest and beneath said iron supsource of solder, a solder feeder associated with the standard, adjustable means operatively con-- meeting the feeder with the support and adapted to actuate the feeder when the support moves upwards.

3. Ina soldering device, as set; forth in claim 2, said standard bein tubular and being provided with guide mean for said support, said support consisting of a sleeve slidable upon the standard, a guide member mounted in said sleeve and engaging the guide means in said standard, and an iron-receiving bracket adjustably secured, to said sleeve and provided with an adjustable iron clamp.

4. In a soldering device, as set forth in claim 2, said standard and said iron support having guide means adapted to define and limit the movement of the support in respect to the standard.

5. In a soldering iron device, as set forth in claim 2, said solder feeder comprising a pair of feed rollers, one of the rollers being mounted on a shaft in fixed bearings, the other roller being movable and having means for urging it against the fixed roller, a ratchet Wheel fixed on the shaft of the fixed roller, a weighted ratchet operatively engaging the ratchet wheel and mounted with the adjustable means connecting the feeder with the support, the setting of said ad- V of the support.

justable means determining the degree of feeding movement of said feeder.

6. In an automatic soldering device, a device support, a base mounted thereon,a standard and an adjustable Work-rest extending from the base, an adjustable iron support, provided with an adjustaole iron holder, and being reciprccatingly and slidably mounted with standard, an electric iron secured in the 1101 3r, means for guiding and limiting the movement" the iron support, adjustable, resilient means within the standard for normally urging the iron support upwards, pedal-actuated operating means for the iron support mounted in said device support, a

resilient connection interposed between the iron support and said operating means, a feeder mounting removably associated with, but fixedly held upon said standard, a solder roll supporting bracket extending from said mounting and having means for accommodating and permitting a free bodily movement and free rotation of a solder roll, a solder roll suspended from said accommodating means, a solder feeder operatively lodged in said mounting and comprising a pair of feed rollers, one roller being secured to a shaft in fixed bearings, the other roller being movable, spring means urging the latter roller against the fixed roller, a ratchet wheel provided with the shaft of the fixed roller, a weighted ratchet operatively engaging the ratchet wheel, two adjustable connections pivotally secured to the feeder mounting and the iron support, the ratchet being pivotally secured to the connection of the feeder mounting, said connections being adapted to operate the solder feeder to feed solder over the work-rest during the upward movement LEONARD 1e. YGUNG. 

